Iced tea with gin and cardamom

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. cardamom berries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 piece (2.5 cm) ginger, peeled and sliced
• 3 bags of black tea
• 180 ml. gin
• 30 ml sweet vermouth
• 1/2 tsp orange bitters
• Orange or lemon zest, cut into strips, for garnish

Preparation:

1. Toast the cardamom pods in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 3 cups of water, sugar, and ginger to the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture reduces to 2 cups, about 10 minutes.
2. Strain the syrup into a measuring jug. If you get less than 2 cups of syrup, add hot water. Add tea bags to the syrup and let steep for 3 minutes. Then remove the tea bags and cool the syrup to room temperature.
3. Pour the syrup, gin, vermouth, and bitters into a large shaker, add ice, and shake for 15 seconds. Then strain the cocktail into a pitcher filled with ice. Add orange or lemon zest.